Anyone know what this is?

[maybelateron]

Looking at a regular customer's trees today I found tis growing out of the base of a large old Ash. The tree in itself looks it reasonable shape, but of course it might look different once the leaves are out. And of course it overhangs a neighbouring yard with some nice vintage lorries under it. There is also  small electric substation under one limb. 

[Mark Bolam]

@David Humphries?

 

It’s possible someone wanted to spike up the tree, but not at the front of it where it could be seen.

 

The dilemma then is how you tell the difference between the front and back of a tree?

 

Well you wouldn’t have a shite round the front of a tree, would you?

[richyrich]

It looks like the tree itself is having a shite..

[JaySmith]

Difficult to tell from the pic and how degraded it is. However the scales on the shank point me towards Pholiota squarrosa but that’s a stab in the dark if I’m honest